O Bradaigh slams Bush intervention as 'hypocrisy'

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday April 09, 2003 18:38 by Ailin

In a statement Sinn Féin Poblachtach President Ruairí Ó Brádaigh has described US President, George Bush's visit to Belfast as 'Hypocrisy'. He also points out that the decision of the SDLP, whose MPs voted against the 'war on Iraq' in the British 'House of Commons' on March 18, and the Provisionals to meet Bush, contradicts their stated opposition to the war.

"George Bush's visit to Belfast in a blatant attempt to portray himself as a 'peace - broker', while at the same time the US and Britain are waging a horrific war of conquest on the people of Iraq, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of men, women and children, is both hypocritical and contradictory.

"In coming to Belfast George Bush is lending US weight to the imposition of a 'civil rights type solution' under British Rule on the Six Counties, which of course contains within it the seeds of future conflict, failing as it does to address to root cause of the problem.

"The powerful 'Washington establishment' have consistently supported the stronger side in any conflict as evidenced by their involvement in Palestine where they have sponsored an Israeli dictated so - called 'peace process', which as we can see today has led only to a daily death toll of Palestinian men women and children.

"Travelling to the Six Counties George Bush is similarly acting as sponsor for a British imposed solution in Ireland whilst also using Ireland to set out his stall for the colonisation of the Iraqi people.

"The decision of both the SDLP, whose MPs voted against the 'war on Iraq' in the British "House of Commons' and the Provisionals to participate in this charade contradicts their publicly stated opposition to this imperialist war." Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said.